Flushing apparatus.



L. SIMMONS.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1913.

Patented. July 6, 1915.

3] awuewto'o a wi tmcooeo COLUMBIA FLANOpRAPM CO.,W ASHINGTON. n. c.

LEO. SIMMONS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 013 COLUMBIA.

rrusnnve Arrnna'rus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6,, 11915.

Application filed June12, 1913., Serial No... 773,295.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known, that I, Lno SIMMoNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in flushing apparatus and the like, and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, in, the light of the following explanation of the, accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression from among other forms, arrangements and constructions within the spirit and scope of my invention.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1, is a longitudinal section showing apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing apparatus in accordance with my invention coupled into the water supply connections of a closet hopper. Fig. 3, is a detail view showing certain parts.

The vertically elongated casing 1, of the apparatus is internally divided into an upper water supply or pressure, chamber and a lower discharge chamber by an internal annular contraction providing a vertical contracted port. This port is surrounded with a vertical cylindrical or annular metal flange or wall 2, the top comparatively narrow horizontal annular edge of which forms an elevated comparatively sharp valve seat spaced inwardly a distance from the surrounding adjacent vertical wall of the casing. This vertical flange 2, is shown rising from and integral with a horizontal inwardly projecting annular flange 3, integral with the casing wall. The passage of flushing water through said port is controlled by a main lift valve 4, and a pressure relieving 0r auxiliary lift valve 5.

The valve a, is arranged above the port and is formed. to seat down on the top edge of wall 2, to close said port and atits under side is formed with a socket tightly receiving an annular flat washer 6, of leather, composition or other suitable sufliciently durable soft. or cushioning material to seat on the top edge of wall 2 in closing the port. The valve 4:, is formed with a central neck 7, depending into the port and through the central opening of the washer and at its projecting lower end is provided with a nut 8, to clamp the; washer tightly to the valve. The valve is formed with a vertical pressure relieving passage or duct 9', extending centrally tl'ierethrough for the passage of water from the chamber above the valve to the chamber below the valve.v The upper end of the valve is formed with an enlarged socket forming the upper end of this passage and an annular packing washer 10, is clamped on the floor of this socket by suit able means screwed into the socket, to form a valve. seat for the auxiliary valve 5, which is normally located in said socket and on said seat to close the relief passage through the main valve.

The relief valve 5, is provided with, a vertical depending valve stem or lift rod 12,

usually rigid therewith. This stem extends through the passage 9-, of the main valve and is of such size as not to interfere with the pressure relieving flow of water through said passage. The lower end of stem 12, is coupled (usually by screw threads) to the upper end of a vertical rod or stem extension 13, the lower end of which is coupled to adash pot piston for controlling the closing movement of the valves.

The stem extension 13, can be longitudinally slotted and provided with a transverse bearing surface, such as roll 14, to receive the valve lifting toe or arm 15, fixed to rock shaft 16, provided with exterior operating handle17. The main valve is lifted to open the port controlled thereby, through the medium of the relief valve and its stem, and said relief valve has a limited vertical movement independent of said main valve, While the closing movement of the main valve is controlled by the relief valve. The main valve is provided with stops, abutments or walls, arranged above and below the relief valve and limiting the range of independent movement of the relief valve.

For instance, the seat 10, limits the independent downward movement of the relief valve vwhilev a stop carried by the main valve and arranged above the relief valvelimits the independent upward movement of the relief valve. In the example illustrated, I show this stop formed'by the upper end of a cap, casing, reversed cup, or cylinder 11, normally fixed to and rising from the main valve and forming a chamber inclosing the relief valve. The lower end of this cap is externally threaded and is longitudinally screwed into the socket in the upper end ofthe main valve and forms means to clamp the washer 10, in place. The upper end of saidcap is preferably closed except for a central vertical perforation to receive and guide a vertical guide stem 18, rigid with and rising from the relief valve and at its upper end freely movable vertically in a guide 19.- Intermediate its length, said cap is formed with one or more water inlet slots or openings 20, and these inlet openings are so arranged as to be closed by the relief valve when said valve is in normal lowered position closing the relief passage 9, and to be opened for the free flow of water from the pressure chamber of the easing into and through relief passage 9, when said relief valve is in its elevated or opened position. In the present instance, this result is accomplished by forming the relief valve with an exterior cylindrical surface 21, approximately snugly fitting the cylindrical inner surface of the cap, and of such dimensions as to cover and close said inlet openings 20, when the valve is seated on washer l0, and closing passage 9, and to uncover said openings when the valve moves up in the cap to open passage 9.

In the operation of the device, the relief valve is lifted by its stem 12, to uncover the slots 20, and permit pressure relieving flow of water through said slots and the passage 9. The relief valve moves up without disturbing the main valve, until the upper end of the relief valve engages the closed upper end of the cap 11, and then the main valve is lifted by and with the relief valve to uncover the port and permit the flushing flow of water. The main valve is upheld by the engagement of the relief valve with the upper end of the cap, until on the downward movement of the parts, the main valve settles down onto its seat and closes the port, whereupon the relief valve moves on its in dependent downward movement in the cap and covers the slots 20, just before it closes the relief passage 9.

Advantages are attained by cutting off the free inflow of water through ports 20, and under the relief valve just before said valve seats. The cylindrical portion of said valve has an approximately close fit within the cylindrical inner surface of cap or housing 11, and the leakage around stem 18, and

through the perforation in the top of said housing is somewhat restricted or comparatively slow, and hence said relief valve, when completing its independent seating movement, is relieved of such sudden increase of pressure within said housing and above said valve as might tend to forcibly drive the valve onto its seat and cause hammering and consequent objectionable noise and wear. In other words, the flow of water into and from the space in housing 11, above valve 5, is somewhat slow to prevent sudden equalization of the pressures in said space and in the pressure chamber of the casing. Furthermore, other advantages are attained by the arrangement described as well as by locating the means whereby the relief valve lifts the main valve and controls the closing movement of said valve, at a point above the flushing water discharge port.

If so desired, the interior surfaces of the casing around and adjacent to the valve seat forming flange 2, can be formed to guide and center the main valve when closing down on said seat in a manner to cause the top edge of said flange 2, to always approximately engage the same annular portion of the packing 6, of said valve.

In the particular example illustrated, the casing 1, is formed with a side inlet opening above the horizontal plane of the valve seat 2, to receive the water supply or service pipe or connection 23, while below said valve seat, the casing 1, provides a side discharge passage or branch 24-, to which is coupled the pipe or connection 25 to convey the water to the article to be flushed.

The upper end of the casing 1, can be suitably closed, as by cap 26, while the lower end thereof is closed by a cup 27, removably screwed thereonto and depending therefrom. This cup forms a cylinder for the dash pot piston and has its open upper end below and alined with the flushing water port controlled by the valves.

The piston consists of a head 28, having a shank to the upper end of which the lower end of the valve stem section 13, is removably united by a screw threaded connection. This head is formed with a hollow cylindrical neck 29, open at its lower end and depending from the center of the under side of the head and at its upper end having one or more radial water passages or ports 30, extending from the interior to the exterior of the neck. The interior of the lower end of the neck is internally threaded to receive a threaded ring having an enlarged flange 31, fitting the end edge of the neck and projecting outwardly there beyond to form an exterior stop at the lower end of the neck.

The piston packing is vertically movable on the neck 29, between the stop 31., and

the bottom face of the head, for the pur pose of opening and closing the ports 30. The packing consists of a down turned flexible cupped washer 32, of leather or 2 other suitable material carried by a sleeve or bushing 33 shorter than and freely slidable vertically on the neck 29. The washer is secured to said sleeve-by having the. inturned horizontal flange at the upper end of the washer tightlyclamped against an outturned flange 3a, at the upper end of the sleeve by a nut 35, screwing on the exterior of the sleeve, so, that the free flexible flange of the washer depends at the exterior of and surrounds the sleeve and nut and snugly fits the inner surface of the cylinder 27. The arrangement is such that when the valve mechanism is, lifted by the lifting arm 15, the pistonwill be simultaneously lifted in its cylinder. When the valve stem moves up, the piston head will move up. in the sleeve 83, until the flange 31 engages the lower end of the sleeve 34, and the sleeve and cupped washer will then be moved up with the piston head. When the packing ring is at its limit of downward movement on the piston head, the ports 30, are uncovered and hence as the piston moves up water can freely flow inwardly through said ports into theopen end neck 29, and thus from the space in the cylinder above the piston to the space in the cylinder below the piston, so that the piston can freely move up without materially resisting the opening movement of the lift valves. hen the valves start on their closing movement, and the piston begins to descend, the resistance of the water below the piston will press the cupped washer still more tightly against the inner surface of the cylinder and hold the washer against downward movement until the neck 29, has moved down to engage the under face of the piston head against the sleeve 34:, and thereby force the packing down with the piston head. However, this movement has brought the packing to its limit of upward movement and has covered the ports 30, against flow of water through the piston from the under face to the upper face thereof. The piston, hence can descend in the cylinder only as permitted by the slow leakage or escape of This piston controls the ton is descending, except in so far as water may leak past the Washer as herembefore described, and in this connection attention is thereof for adjustment. This screw engages the lifting arm 15, and limits the upward movement thereof.

It is. not necessary to adjust the main or the relief valve or the piston to vary the length of time the valves will be held open by the piston, and consequently the amount of flushing water discharged at an operation. The only adjustment required to vary the flushing flow is the inward or outward movement of the screw 37 I provide a horizontal disk or cup 38, on the lifting rod connection between the valves and piston, and arrange this disk directly below the port controlled by said valves so as to receive the impact of the water descending through said port for the purpose of increasing the downward pressure on the piston, particularly at the very instant the flushing flow is started, to. aid in starting the piston on its downward movement and in overcoming the tendency of the piston packing to hold the piston elevated. I usually form this disk with uni formly spaced vertical openings 39, for the passage of water therethrough, and to thereby permit the use of a disk of greater diameter than would be otherwise desirable,

without objectionably increasing the surface area of the disk subject to the impact of the water. In the particular example illustrated, I show the disk 38, clamped between the lifting rod section 13, and the upper end of the shank of the piston head.

I show the dash pot cylinder formed with a bottom drainage opening normally tightly closed by screw plug 40.

It is evident that various changes, variations and modifications might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the particular mechanical expressions of my invention disclosed hereby.

That I claim is 1. In flushing apparatus, in combination, a casing, a main lift valve having a pressure relief passage and provided with packing forming a valve seat at the upper end of said passage, a housing exten ding upwardly from said valveand secured thereto above said packing and having a side inlet port above said seat, a relief lift'valve normally seated on said packing closing said passage and having a lift rod depending through said passage and provided with a dash pot piston to control the closing movement of said relief and main valves, said relief valve formed to move vertically in said housing and open and close said inlet port and to engage the upper end of said housing and lift said main valve, and means for operating said lift rod to elevate said valves.

2. In flushing apparatus, in combination, a casing, a main lift valve controlling the flushing flow of water through said casing and having a pressure relief passage, a housing rising from said valve and secured thereto and having a side inlet port and providing a stop, a relief lift valve having a lift rod and normally closing said passage and arranged in said housing and formed to close said port when in normal passage closing position and to open said port when in elevated position, said relief valve having a limited vertical movement in said housing independently of said main valve and arranged to lift said main valve and control the closing movement thereof by engagement with said stop of said housing, and means controlling the closing movement of said relief valve.

3. In flushing apparatus, in combination, a casing, a main lift valve. controlling the flushing flow of water through said casing and having a pressure relief passage, a relief lift valve normally seated on said main valve closing said passage and provided with a lift rod, said relief valve having a limited vertical movement independently of said main valve, said main valve provided with a housing rising therefrom and in which said relief valve is vertically movable independently of said main valve, said relief valve arranged to lift said main valve and control the closing movement thereof by engagement with said housing, and a dash pot piston rigid with said lift rod and controlling the closing movement of said relief valve and of said main valve through the medium of said relief valve and said housport conand on said packing and forming an elevated stop and having an inlet port above said seat forfiow of liquid'to said passage, a relief valve arranged in said housing and having a vertical movement therein independent of said main valve, saidrelief valve normally seated on said packing and having a lift rod provided with a dash pot piston to control the closing movements of said two valves, and means for raising the lift rod to elevate said valves, the relief valve controlling the vertical movement of the main valve by engagement with said stop.

5. In a flushing apparatus, in combination, a casing having a valve seat, a main lift valve normally resting on said seat and provided with a pressure relief passage extending vertically therethrough, said valve provided with a housing carried thereby and rising therefrom and into which said passage opens, said housing having an inlet port, a pressure relief valve arranged in said housing and having an independent vertical movement therein, said relief valve normally closing said reliefpassage and the inlet port, said relief valve adapted to move upwardly in the housing to open the relief passage and the inlet port and to engage the upper end of the housingand elevate said main valve, and a lift rod controlling the vertical movement of said relief valve and whereby the same is operated.

6. In a flushing apparatus, in combination, a casing having a valve seat, a main lift valve normally resting on said seat and having pressure relief passage extending vertically therethrough and provided with a vertically elongated housing forming a chamber into the lower end of which said passage opens, said housing having a side inlet port, and a pressure relief valve in said chamber and having an independent movement therein to close and open said passage and said side inlet port, said relief valve having a surface snugly fitting the inner surface of said housing and arranged on the closing movement of the relief valve to close said inlet port before said relief passage is closed and on the opening movement to open said relief passage before said inlet port is open.

7. In flushing apparatus, in combination, a casing having a valve seat, a main lift valve having a relief passage extending vertically therethrough and provided with a vertically arranged housing carried thereby and having a top vertical perforation and a side inlet port, and a pressure relief valve arranged in said housing and having a vertical movement therein independent of said main valve and adapted to engage the upper end of the housing to lift the main valve and formed to close and open said relief passage and said inlet port in the operation of the valve and provided with a vertical rod extending through said perforation, said relief valve having operating and controlling means.

8. In a flushing apparatus, in combination, a casing embodying a dash pot cylinder, flushing valve mechanism, a vertically movable dash pot piston in said cylinder and controlling the closing movement of said valve mechanism, a vertically movable lift rod included in said valve mechanism and having screw threaded connection with said piston, a removable disk clamped between In testimony whereof I ai'liX my signature said rod and said piston and arranged to rein presence of tWo Witnesses.

ceive the impact of the flushing flow of LEO SIMMONS. Water, said lift rod formed of removable Witnesses:

5 sections, and operating mechanism applied EMILY F. CAMP,

to said lift rod. HUBERT E. PEOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (3. 

